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5 questions facing the Bengals

By Joe Reedy;, jreedy@enquirer.com;
4:32 p.m. EST January 17, 2014

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 BENGALS SPORTS : Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer didn't have all the answers for the offense of the San Diego Chargers in their 27-10 loss in their AFC wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger(Photo: =082015001342Name=, The Cincinnati Enquirer)

The offseason came earlier than expected for the Bengals but with more questions than last year. One was answered on Friday as Hue Jackson took over for Jay Gruden at offensive coordinator. It was expected that at least one Bengals coordinator would move on this offseason, but there is an increasing possibility they will lose both. According to various reports, Mike Zimmer will have a second interview with the Vikings early this week after he talked with Minnesota last Wednesday. With the Senior Bowl and the Road to the 2014 Draft getting increased attention, here are five key questions for the franchise with the offseason in full swing.

If Zimmer goes, who replaces him?

The best and most logical candidate is someone already on their staff – linebackers coach Paul Guenther. Since Kevin Coyle went to Miami, many have looked at Guenther as an assistant on the rise. He has done great work with the linebackers and was responsible for scouting Emmanuel Lamur and Jayson DiManche while working with Vontaze Burfict. If you didn’t know any better, you would think Burfict has played outside linebacker his entire career.

Gruden would be interested in talking with Guenther as well, but since Guenther is under contract the Bengals can block it. Zimmer would love to have Guenther as well if he went to Minnesota or Tennessee, which is why promoting him makes the best sense.

When discussing staying within staff to fill openings, Lewis said on Friday: “I think it makes a big difference. I think it’s good for our players. As long as we feel the person is qualified.”

If Lewis went outside the staff, a possible name is former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. Lewis and Schwartz worked together in Baltimore and the two remain close friends. Even if Guenther became defensive coordinator, Schwartz could end up here as linebackers coach, but there remain some reports that he wants to take the year off.

Much like Jackson came here after being fired by the Raiders, becoming a defensive assistant, coming here could benefit Schwartz the same way. Schwartz coached linebackers in Baltimore and Tennessee.

What are areas to watch going into the draft?

Granted it doesn’t take place until May 8-10, but a couple areas to watch are cornerback, defensive end and quarterback.

Terence Newman will be 36 at the beginning of the season, Leon Hall is coming off an Achilles injury and Adam Jones will be 31. In other words, they need to start blending in some youth. After two years, Dre Kirkpatrick remains an unknown.

You can never have enough defensive linemen, plus Gruden said going into last year’s draft that they needed to start developing another young quarterback as a backup and in case Andy Dalton got injured.

How do things look going into free agency?

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The Bengals could carry $8 million to next year’s cap, which is expected to increase slightly. With the extensions signed by Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, the preliminary estimates are they will have $27 million in cap space when the new league year begins on March 11.

Cincinnati will have 11 unrestricted free agents with defensive end Michael Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins expected to command the most interest. If the Bengals tag Johnson again, the cap hit would be over $13 million, which is why it is highly unlikely.

In the fallout of the playoff game many fans would answer with a resounding no, but there are other reasons as well. If you combine division games, prime time games and playoff games, he is 9-14. It’s one thing to perform well against the Buffalos and Detroits of the world, but you have to be consistent against your division rivals and in the big-stage games.

Dalton needs to develop consistency, and with the financial stake that you place in a quarterback there are too many risks at the moment. The only way an extension with Dalton makes sense is if it carries tons of incentives.

Plus, there are two other players that need extensions before Dalton.

And those players would be?

First and foremost is A.J. Green. The Bengals have been carrying over cap space for the past two seasons knowing they would need to sign their All-Pro receiver to a mega deal, and now would be the time. If you are looking for a contract to compare to the one that Green is expected to receive, there is the eight-year, $132 million deal that Calvin Johnson signed with Detroit in 2012. There is also Burfict. Since he was an undrafted free agent, you can negotiate with him after two seasons because it is a three-year contract. ?